Mixtures or organic compounds for the treatment of airway diseases

ABSTRACT

A medicament comprising, separately or together, (A) a compound of formula (I) in free or pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate form and (B) a corticosteroid, for simultaneous, sequential or separate administration in the treatment of an inflammatory or obstructive airways disease, the molar ratio of (A) to (B) being from 100:1 to 1:300.

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/433,546, filed Jun. 4, 2003 which is a national stage application of PCT Patent Application No. PCT/EP01/14122, filed Dec. 3, 2001 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,800,643, which are herein incorporated by reference.

This invention relates to organic compounds and their use as pharmaceuticals, in particular for the treatment of inflammatory or obstructive airways diseases.

In one aspect, the present invention provides a medicament comprising, separately or together, (A) a compound of formula

in free or pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate form and (B) a corticosteroid, for simultaneous, sequential or separate administration in the treatment of an inflammatory or obstructive airways disease.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a method of treating an inflammatory or obstructive airways disease which comprises administering to a subject in need of such treatment effective amounts of (A) as hereinbefore defined and (B) as hereinbefore defined.

In a further aspect, the present invention provides a pharamceutical composition comprising a mixture of effective amounts of (A) as hereinbefore defined and (B) as hereinbefore defined, optionally together with at least one pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

The invention further provides the use of (A) as hereinbefore defined and/or (B) as hereinbefore defined in the preparation of a medicament for combination therapy by simultaneous, sequential or separate administration of (A) and (B) in the treatment of an inflammatory or obstructive airways disease.

The compound of formula I may be prepared in free or salt or solvate form by reacting (R)-8-benzyloxy-5-oxiranylcarbostyril with 5,6-diethylindan-2-ylamine to give 8-benzyloxy-5-[(R)-2-(5,6-diethyl-indan-2-ylamino)-1-hydroxy-ethyl]-IH-quinolin-2-one, subjecting the latter to a deprotecting reaction to replace the benzyl group by hydrogen, and recovering the resultant compound of formula I in free or salt or solvate form. The reactions may be carried out using the procedures hereinafter described in the Examples or analogous procedures. (R)-8-benzyloxy-5-oxiranylcarbostyril may be prepared as described in WO95/25104. 5,6-Diethylindan-2-ylamine may be prepared by known methods or analogues thereof, for example as described hereinafter in the Examples.

Pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the compound of formula I may be acid addition salts, including those of inorganic acids, for example hydrohalic acids such as hydrofluoric acid, hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid or hydriodic acid, nitric acid, sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid; and organic acids such as formic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, benzoic acid, o-hydroxybenzoic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, p-chlorobenzoic acid, diphenylacetic acid, triphenylacetic acid, 1-hydroxynaphthalene-2-carboxylic acid, 3-hydroxynaphthalene-2-carboxylic acid, aliphatic hydroxy acids such as lactic acid, citric acid, tartaric acid or malic acid, dicarboxylic acids such as fumaric acid, maleic acid or succinc acid, and sulfonic acids such as methanesulfonic acid or benzenesulfonic acid. These salts may be prepared from compounds of formula I by known salt-forming procedures. Pharmaceutically acceptable solvates are generally hydrates. A particularly preferred form of the compound of Formula I is the maleate salt.

The corticosteroid (B) may be, for example, of formula

or a 1,2-dihydro derivative thereof, where

R¹ is C₁–C₄-alkyl optionally substituted by halogen (preferably chlorine or fluorine), hydroxy, C₁–C₄-alkoxy, acyloxy or by acylthio, or R¹ is C₁–C₄-alkoxy or C₁–C₄-alkylthio optionally substituted by halogen, or R¹ is 5- or 6-membered heterocyclylthio, either R² is acyloxy and R³ is hydrogen or C₁–C₄-alkyl, or R² and R³ together denote a group of formula

where R⁴ is C₁–C₄-alkyl or C₃–C₆-cycloalkyl and R⁵ is hydrogen or C₁–C₄-alkyl, and X¹ and X² are each independently hydrogen, chlorine or fluorine.

C₁–C₄-alkyl as used herein may be methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, sec-butyl or tert-butyl.

C₁–C₄-alkoxy as used herein may be methoxy, ethoxy, n-propoxy, isopropoxy, n-butoxy, isobutoxy, sec-butoxy or tert-butoxy.

C₁–C₄-alkylthio as used herein may be methylthio, ethylthio, n-propylthio, isopropylthio, n-butylthio, isobutylthio, sec-butylthio or tert-butylthio.

When R¹ is acyloxy-substituted C₁–C₄-alkyl, the acyloxy group may be, for example, C₁–C₂₀- alkylcarbonyloxy, e.g. acetyloxy, n-propionyloxy, isopropionyloxy or hexadecanoyloxy, or C₃–C₆-cycloalkylcarbonyloxy, e.g. cyclohexylcarbonyloxy. When R¹ is acylthio-substituted C₁–C₄-alkyl, the acylthio group may be, for example, C₁–C₄-alkylcarbonylthio, e.g. acetylthio or n-propionylthio. When R¹ is 5- or 6-membered heterocyclylthio, the heterocyclyl group may be an O-heterocyclyl group, for example a furanonyl group.

When R² is acyloxy, it may be, for example, C₁–C₄-alkylcarbonyloxy, e.g. acetyloxy, n-propionyloxy, or n-butyroyloxy, C₃–C₆-cycloalkylcarbonyloxy e.g. cyclopropylcarbonyloxy, or 5- or 6-membered heterocyclylcarbonyloxy e.g. furoyloxy.

When R³ is C₁–C₄-alkyl it may be in the alpha or beta conformation, more usually in the alpha conformation.

When R² and R³ together denote a group of formula III, R⁴ as C₃–C₆-cycloalkyl may be, for example, cyclohexyl.

Corticosteroids of formula I and their 1,2-dihydro derivatives include beclamethasone dipropionate, budesonide, fluticasone propionate, mometasone furoate, ciclesonide, triamcinolone acetonide, flunisolide, rofleponide palmitate, butixocort propionate and icometasone enbutate. In particularly preferred emodiments of the invention, the corticosteroid (B) is budesonide, fluticasone propionate or mometasone furoate.

Administration of the medicament or pharmaceutical composition as hereinbefore described, i.e. with (A) and (B) in admixture or separate, is preferably by inhalation, i.e. (A) and (B) or the mixture thereof are in inhalable form. The inhalable form of the medicament i.e. of (A) and/or (B) may be, for example, an atomizable composition such as an aerosol comprising the active ingredient, i.e. (A) and (B) separately or in admixture, in solution or dispersion in a propellant, or a nebulizable composition comprising a solution or dispersion of the active ingredient in an aqueous, organic or aqueous/organic medium. For example, the inhalable form of the medicament may be an aerosol comprising a mixture of (A) and (B) in solution or dispersion in a propellant, or a combination of an aerosol containing (A) in solution or dispersion in a propellant with an aerosol containing (B) in solution or dispersion in a propellant. In another example, the inhalable form is a nebulizable composition comprising a dispersion of (A) and (B) in an aqueous, organic or aqueous/organic medium, or a combination of a dispersion of (A) in such a medium with a dispersion of (B) in such a medium.

An aerosol composition suitable for use as the inhalable form of the medicament may comprise the active ingredient in solution or dispersion in a propellant, which may be chosen from any of the propellants known in the art. Suitable such propellants include hydrocarbons such as n-propane, n-butane or isobutane or mixtures of two or more such hydrocarbons, and halogen-substituted hydrocarbons, for example chlorine and/or fluorine-substituted methanes, ethanes, propanes, butanes, cyclopropanes or cyclobutanes, such as dichlorodifluoromethane (CFC 12), trichlorofluoromethane (CFC11), 1,2-dichloro-1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethane (CFC114) or, particularly, 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (HPA134a) and 1,1,1,2,3,3,3-heptafluoropropane (HFA227), or mixtures of two or more such halogen-substituted hydrocarbons. Where the active ingredient is present in suspension in the propellant, i.e. where it is present in particulate form dispersed in the propellant, the aerosol composition may also contain a lubricant and a surfactant, which may be chosen from those lubricants and surfactants known in the art. Other suitable aerosol compositions include surfactant-free or substantially surfactant-free aerosol compositions. The aerosol composition may contain up to about 5% by weight, for example 0.0001 to 5%, 0.001 to 5%, 0.001 to 3%, 0.001 to 2%, 0.001 to 1%, 0.001 to 0.1%, or 0.001 to 0.01% by weight of the active ingredient, based on the weight of the propellant. Where present, the lubricant and surfactant may be in an amount up to 5% and 0.5% respectively by weight of the aerosol composition. The aerosol composition may also contain a co-solvent such as ethanol in an amount up to 30% by weight of the composition, particularly for administration from a pressurised metered dose inhalation device. The aerosol composition may further contain a bulking agent, for example a sugar such as lactose, sucrose, dextrose, mannitol or sorbitol, in an amount, for example, of up to 20%, usually 0.001 to 1%, by weight of the composition.

In another embodiment of the invention, the inhalable form is a dry powder, i.e. (A) and/or (B) are present in a dry powder comprising finely divided (A) and/or (B) optionally together with at least one particulate pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, which may be one or more materials known as pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, preferably chosen from materials known as carriers in dry powder inhalation compositions, for example saccharides, including monosaccharides, disaccharides, polysaccharides and sugar alcohols such as arabinose, glucose, fructose, ribose, mannose, sucrose, trehalose, lactose, maltose, starches, dextran, mannitol or sorbitol. An especially preferred carrier is lactose. The dry powder may be contained as unit doses in capsules of, for example, gelatin or plastic, or in blisters (e.g. of aluminium or plastic), for use in a dry powder inhalation device, which may be a single dose or multiple dose device, preferably in dosage units of (A) and/or (B) together with the carrier in amounts to bring the total weight of powder per capsule to from 5 mg to 50 mg. Alternatively, the dry powder may be contained in a reservoir in a multi-dose dry powder inhalation device adapted to deliver, for example, 3–25 mg of dry powder per actuation.

In the finely divided particulate form of the medicament, and in the aerosol composition where the active ingredient is present in particulate form, the active ingredient may have an average particle diameter of up to about 10 μm, for example 0.1 to 5 μm, preferably 1 to 5 μm. The particulate carrier, where present, generally has a maximum particle diameter up to 300 μm, preferably up to 212 μm, and conveniently has a mean particle diameter of 40 to 100 μm, e.g. 50 to 75 μm. The particle size of the active ingredient, and that of a particulate carrier where present in dry powder compositions, can be reduced to the desired level by conventional methods, for example by grinding in an airjet mill, ball mill or vibrator mill, sieving, microprecipitation, spray-drying, lyophilisation or controlled crystallisation from conventional solvents or from supercritical media.

The inhalable medicament may be administered using an inhalation device suitable for the inhalable form, such devices being well known in the art. Accordingly, the invention also provides a pharmaceutical product comprising a medicament or pharmaceutical composition as hereinbefore described in inhalable form as hereinbefore described in association with one or more inhalation devices. In a further aspect, the invention provides an inhalation device, or a pack of two or more inhalation devices, containing a medicament or pharmaceutical composition as hereinbefore described in inhalable form as hereinbefore described.

Where the inhalable form of the active ingredient is an aerosol composition, the inhalation device may be an aerosol vial provided with a valve adapted to deliver a metered dose, such as 10 to 100 μl, e.g. 25 to 50 μl, of the composition, i.e. a device known as a metered dose inhaler. Suitable such aerosol vials and procedures for containing within them aerosol compositions under pressure are well known to those skilled in the art of inhalation therapy. For example, an aerosol composition may be administered from a coated can, for example as described in EP-A-0642992. Where the inhalable form of the active ingredient is a nebulizable aqueous, organic or aqueous/organic dispersion, the inhalation device may be a known nebulizer, for example a conventional pneumatic nebulizer such as an airjet nebulizer, or an ultrasonic nebulizer, which may contain, for example, from 1 to 50 ml, commonly 1 to 10 ml, of the dispersion; or a hand-held nebulizer, sometimes referred to as a soft mist or soft spray inhaler, for example an electronically controlled device such as an AERx (Aradigm, US) or Aerodose (Aerogen), or a mechanical device such as a RESPIMAT (Boehringer Ingelheim) nebulizer which allows much smaller nebulized volumes, e.g. 10 to 100 μl, than conventional nebulizers. Where the inhalable form of the active ingredient is the finely divided particulate form, the inhalation device may be, for example, a dry powder inhalation device adapted to deliver dry powder from a capsule or blister containing a dry powder comprising a dosage unit of (A) and/or (B) or a multidose dry powder inhalation (MDPI) device adapted to deliver, for example, 3–25 mg of dry powder comprising a dosage unit of (A) and/or (B) per actuation. Suitable such dry powder inhalation devices are well known. For example, a suitable device for delivery of dry powder inencapsulated form is that described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,991,761, while a suitable MDPI device is that described in WO97/20589.

The medicament of the invention is preferably a pharmaceutical composition comprising a mixture of (A) as hereinbefore defined and (B) as hereinbefore defined, preferably together with at least one pharmaceutically acceptable carrier as hereinbefore described.

The molar ratio of the compound (A) to the steroid (B) may be, in general, from 100:1 to 1:300, for example from 50:1 to 1:100 or from 20:1 to 1:50, preferably from 10:1 to 1:20, more preferably from 5:1 to 1:10, from 3:1 to 1:7 or from 2:1 to 1:2. The compound (A) and the steroid (B) may be administered separately in the same ratio.

A suitable daily dose of the compound (A), particularly as the maleate salt, for inhalation may be from 20 μg to 2000 μg, for example from 20 to 1500 μg, from 20 to 1000 μg, preferably from 50 to 800 μg, e.g. from 100 to 600 μg or from 100 to 500 μg. A suitable daily dose of steriod (B) for inhalation may be from 20 μg to 5000 μg, for example from 20 to 4000 μg, from 50 to 3000 μg, from 50 to 2000 μg, from 50 to 1000 μg, from 50 to 500 μg, from 50 to 400 μg, from 50 to 300 μg, from 50 to 200 μg or from 50 to 100 μg. Where (B) is budesonide, a suitable daily dose may be from 25 to 4800 μg, for example from 25 to 4000 μg, from 25 to 3200 μg, from 25 to 2400 μg, from 25 to 1600 μg, from 50 to 4800 μg, from 50 to 4000 μg, from 50 to 3200 μg, from 50 to 2400 μg, from 50 to 1600 μg, from 100 to 4000 μg, from 100 to 3200 μg, from 100 to 2400 μg, from 100 to 1600 μg, from 100 to 800 μg, from 100 to 400 μg, from 200 to 4000 μg, from 200 to 1600 μg, from 200 to 800 μg or from 200 to 400 μg, 100 to 1600 μg being preferred. Where (B) is mometasone furoate, a suitable daily dose may be from 50 μg to 2000 μg, for example from 100 to 200 μg, from 100 to 1600 μg, from 100 to 1000 μg or from 100 to 800 μg, preferably from 200 to 500 μg, for instance from 200 to 400 μg. Where (B) is fluticasone propionate, a suitable daily dose may be for inhalation may be from 25 to 2000 μg, for example from 25 to 1500 μg, from 25 to 1000 μg, from 25 to 500 μg, from 25 to 250 μg, from 50 to 1500 μg, from 50 to 1000 μg, from 50 to 500 μg, from 50 to 250 μg, from 100 to 1500 μg, from 100 to 1000 μg, from 100 to 500 μg, from 100 to 2500 μg, from 200 to 1500 μg, from 200 to 1000 μg or from 200 to 500 μg, 100 to 1000 μg being preferred.

A suitable unit dose of compound (A), particularly as the maleate salt, may be from 20 to 2000 μg, for example from 20 to 1500 μg, from 20 to 1000 μg, preferably from 50 to 800 μg, from 50 to 600 μg or from 50 to 500 μg. A suitable unit dose of budesonide may be from 25 to 2400 μg, for example from 50 to 2400 μg, from 50 to 2000 μg, from 50 to 1600 μg, from 50 to 800 μg, from 50 to 400 μg, from 50 to 200 μg, from 100 to 1600 μg, from 100 to 800 μg, from 100 to 400 μg, from 100 to 200 μg, from 200 to 1600 μg, from 200 to 800 μg or from 200 to 400 μg, 100 to 400 μg being preferred. A suitable unit dose of mometasone furoate for inhalation may be from 25 to 2000 μg, for example from 50 μg to 1500 μg, from 50 to 1000 μg, from 50 to 800 μg, from 50 to 400 μg, from 50 to 200 μg, from 50 to 100 μg, from 100 to 800 μg, from 100 to 400 μg or from 100 to 200 μg, 100 to 400 μg being preferred. A suitable unit dose of fluticasone propionate for inhalation may be from 25 to 1000 μg, for example from 25 to 500 μg, from 25 to 250 μg, from 25 to 200 μg, from 50 to 1000 μg, from 50 to 500 μg, from 50 to 250 μg, from 50 to 200 μg, from 100 to 1000 μg, from 100 to 500 μg, from 100 to 250 μg, from 100 to 200 μg, from 150 to 500 μg or from 150 to 250 μg, 100 to 500 μg being preferred. These unit doses may be administered once or twice daily in accordance with the daily doses mentioned hereinbefore. The precise unit and daily dose used will of course depend on the condition to be treated, the patient and the efficiency of the inhalation device.

In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the medicament of the invention is a pharmaceutical composition which is a dry powder in a capsule containing a unit dose of (A) and (B), for example for inhalation from a single capsule inhaler, the capsule suitably containing a unit dose of (A) e.g. as hereinbefore described, and a unit dose of (B), e.g. as hereinbefore described, together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier as hereinbefore described in an amount to bring the total weight of dry powder per capsule to between 5 mg and 50 mg, for example 5 mg, 10 mg, 15 mg, 20 mg, 25 mg, 30 mg, 35 mg, 40 mg, 45 mg or 50 mg.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the medicament of the invention is a pharmaceutical composition which is a dry powder for administration from a reservoir of a multi-dose dry powder inhaler adapted to deliver, for example, 3 mg to 25 mg of powder containing a unit dose of (A) and (B) per actuation, for example, where (A) is in the form of the maleate salt, a powder comprising, by weight, 20 to 2000 parts, for example 60 to 1000 parts, 100 to 500 parts, or 100 to 300 parts of (A); 25 to 800 parts, e.g. 25 to 500 parts, 50 to 400 parts, or 100 to 400 parts of (B); and 2000 to 25000 parts, e.g. 4000 to 15000 parts or 4000 to 10000 parts of a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier as hereinbefore described.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the medicament of the invention is a pharmaceutical composition which is an aerosol comprising (A) and (B), e.g. in a ratio as hereinbefore described, in a propellant as hereinbefore described, optionally together with a surfactant and/or a bulking agent and/or a co-solvent such as ethanol as hereinbefore described, for administration from a metered dose inhaler adapted to deliver an amount of aerosol containing a unit dose of (A) and a unit dose of (B), or a known fraction of a unit dose of (A) and a known fraction of a unit dose of (B), per actuation. Thus if, for example, the inhaler delivers half of the unit doses of (A) and (B) per actuation, the unit doses can be administered by two actuations of the inhaler.

In accordance with the above, the invention also provides a pharmaceutical kit comprising (A) and (B) as hereinbefore defined in separate unit dosage forms, said forms being suitable for administration of (A) and (B) in effective amounts. Such a kit suitably further comprises one or more inhalation devices for administration of (A) and (B). For example, the kit may comprise one or more dry powder inhalation devices adapted to deliver dry powder from a capsule, together with capsules containing a dry powder comprising a dosage unit of (A) and capsules containing a dry powder comprising a dosage unit of (B). In another example, the kit may comprise a multidose dry powder inhalation device containing in the reservoir thereof a dry powder comprising (A) and a multidose dry powder inhalaiton device containing in the reservoir thereof a dry powder comprising (B). In a further example, the kit may comprise a metered dose inhaler containing an aerosol comprising comprising (A) in a propellant and a metered dose inhaler containing an aerosol comprising (B) in a propellant.

The medicaments of the invention are advantageous in the treatment of inflammatory or obstructive airways disease, exhibiting highly effective bronchodilatory and anti-inflammatory properties. For instance, it is possible using the combination therapy of the invention to reduce the dosages of corticosteroid required for a given therapeutic effect compared with those required using treatment with a corticosteroid alone, thereby minimising possibly undesirable side effects. In particular, these combinations, particularly where (A) and (B) are in the same composition, facilitate achievement of a high anti-inflammatory effect, such that the amount of corticosteroid needed for a given anti-inflammatory effect may be reduced when used in admixture with a compound of formula I, thereby reducing the risk of undesirable side effects from the repeated exposure to the steroid involved in the treatment of inflammatory or obstructive airways diseases. Furthermore, using the combinations of the invention, particularly using compositions containing (A) and (B), medicaments which have a rapid onset of action and a long duration of action may be prepared. Moreover, using such combination therapy, medicaments which result in a significant improvement in lung function may be prepared. In another aspect, using the combination therapy of the invention, medicaments which provide effective control of obstructive or inflammatory airways diseases, or a reduction in exacerbations of such diseases, may be prepared. In a further aspect, using compositions of the invention containing (A) and (B), medicaments which reduce or eliminate the need for treatment with short-acting rescue medicaments such as salbutamol or terbutaline, may be prepared; thus compositions of the invention containing (A) and (B) facilitate the treatment of an obstructive or inflammatory airways disease with a single medicament.

Treatment of inflammatory or obstructive airways diseases in accordance with the invention may be symptomatic or prophylactic treatment. Inflammatory or obstructive airways diseases to which the present invention is applicable include asthma of whatever type or genesis including both intrinsic (non-allergic) asthma and extrinsic (allergic) asthma, mild asthma, moderate asthma, severe asthma, bronchitic asthma, exercise-induced asthma, occupational asthma and asthma induced following bacterial infection. Treatment of asthma is also to be understood as embracing treatment of subjects, e.g. of less than 4 or 5 years of age, exhibiting wheezing symptoms and diagnosed or diagnosable as “wheezy infants”, an established patient category of major medical concern and now often identified as incipient or early-phase asthmatics. (For convenience this particular asthmatic condition is referred to as “wheezy-infant syndrome”.)

Prophylactic efficacy in the treatment of asthma will be evidenced by reduced frequency or severity of symptomatic attack, e.g. of acute asthmatic or bronchoconstrictor attack, improvement in lung function or improved airways hyperreactivity. It may further be evidenced by reduced requirement for other, symptomatic therapy, i.e. therapy for or intended to restrict or abort symptomatic attack when it occurs, for example anti-inflammatory (e.g. corticosteroid) or bronchodilatory. Prophylactic benefit in asthma may in particular be apparent in subjects prone to “morning dipping”. “Morning dipping” is a recognised asthmatic syndrome, common to a substantial percentage of asthmatics and characterised by asthma attack, e.g. between the hours of about 4 to 6 am, i.e. at a time normally substantially distant form any previously administered symptomatic asthma therapy.

Other inflammatory or obstructive airways diseases and conditions to which the present invention is applicable include acute lung injury (ALI), adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), chronic obstructive pulmonary, airways or lung disease (COPD, COAD or COLD), including chronic bronchitis and emphysema, bronchiectasis and exacerbation of airways hyperreactivity consequent to other drug therapy, in particular other inhaled drug therapy. Further inflammatory or obstructive airways diseases to which the present invention is applicable include pneumoconiosis (an inflammatory, commonly occupational, disease of the lungs, frequently accompanied by airways obstruction, whether chronic or acute, and occasioned by repeated inhalation of dusts) of whatever type or genesis, including, for example, aluminosis, anthracosis, asbestosis, chalicosis, ptilosis, siderosis, silicosis, tobacosis and byssinosis.

The invention is illustrated by the following Examples, in which parts are by weight unless stated otherwise. In the Examples, Compound A is the compound of formula I in the form of the maleate salt, Bud denotes budesonide, FP denotes fluticasone propionate, MF denotes mometasone furoate and OA denotes oleic acid (surfactant).

PREPARATION EXAMPLES Preparation 1—3-chloro-1-(3,4-diethylphenyl)-1-propanone

1,2-Diethylbenzene (10.9 g, 74.6 mmol) and propionyl chloride (9.7 g, 74.6 mmol) are added dropwise to AlCl₃ (22.3 g, 167.8 mmol) in nitromethane (75 mL) over 30 min. The reaction mixture is stirred at room temperature for 2 hours, after which 70 g of ice and 14 mL concentrated sulphuric acid are added. The aqueous phase is extracted with ether, and the combined organic phases extracted with 2N HCl and saturated aqueous NaCl. The organic phase is further treated with activated charcoal, magnesium sulphate, and filtered, and the solvent removed in vacuo.

1H-NMR (CDCl₃) ppm: 7.8 (1H, s, Ar); 7.7 (1H, d, Ar); 7.2 (1H, d, Ar); 3.9 (2H, t, CH₂); 3.4 (2H, t, CH₂); 2.8 (4H, q, CH₂CH₃); 1.2 (6H, m, CH₃).

Preparation 2—5,6-diethyl-indan-1-one

3-chloro-1-(3,4-diethylphenyl)-1-propanone (15.5 g) is dissolved in 66 ml concentrated sulphuric acid and heated to 90° C. for 4 hours. The reaction mixture is cooled, ice (70 g) is added, and the aqueous solution extracted twice with toluene. The organic layer is washed with sodium bicarbonate, saturated aqueous NaCl, and treated with activated charcoal and magnesium suphate. After filtration, the solvent is removed in vacuo. The product is purified by flash column chromatography (silica, hexane/ethylacetate 10:1), and further crystallised in hexane.

1H-NMR (CDCl₃) ppm: 7.6 (1H, s, Ar); 7.3 (1H, d, Ar); 3.1 (2H, m, CH₂); 2.7 (6H, m, CH₂+CH₂CH₃); 1.2 (6H, m, CH₃).

Preparation 3—5,6-Diethyl-indan-1,2-dione 2-oxime

5,6-diethyl-indan-1-one (5 g, 26 mmol) in methanol (75 mL) is brought to 40° C., n-butyl nitrite (3.0 g, 28.6 mmol) is added dropwise, followed by the addition of concentrated HCl (1.25 mL). After 1 hour, the reaction is brought to room temperature and the precipitated product filtered off, washed with ice-cold methanol and dried.

1H-NMR (d6-DMSO) ppm: 12.6 (1H, s, OH); 7.4 (1H, s, Ar); 7.3 (1H, d, Ar); 3.6 (2H, s, CH₂); 2.6 (4H, m, CH₂CH₃); 1.1 (6H, m, CH₃).

Preparation 4—5,6-Diethyl-indan-2-ylamine hydrochloride

5,6-Diethyl-indan-1,2-dione 2-oxime (4.5 g) is added to a mixture of acetic acid (150 mL), and concentrated sulphuric acid (4.5 mL). Pd/C 5% (1.5 g) is added, the reaction mixture degassed with nitrogen, and hydrogenated for 5 hours. The catalyst is then removed by filtration, the pH brought to pH 10 with 4M NaOH, and the solution extracted with chloroform. The organic phase is dried with magnesium sulphate, and the solvent removed in vacuo. The residue is redisolved in a minimum amount of ether, and HCl saturated ether added. The white precipitate is filtered and dried to yield the HCl salt of 5,6-diethyl-indan-2-ylamine.

1H-NMR (d6-DMSO) ppm: 8.7 (3H, bd s, NH₃); 7.3 (2H, s, Ar); 4.2 (1H, bd s, CH); 3.5 (2H, dd, CH₂); 3.3 (2H, dd, CH₂); 2.8 (4H, q, CH₂CH₃); 1.4 (6H, t, CH₃).

Preparation 5—8-benzyloxy-5-[(R)-2-(5,6-diethyl-indan-2-ylamino)-1-hydroxy-ethyl]-1H-quinolin-2-one

A solution of (R)-8-benzyloxy-5-oxiranylcarbostyril (5.00 g) and 5,6-diethylindan-2-ylamine (3.87 g) in n-butanol is heated for 4 hours at 110° C. After cooling to room temperature toluene (100 ml) is added and the organic phase is washed with water (3×25 ml), loaded onto a silica gel chromatography column and eluted with toluene followed by a mixture of toluene:ethanol:ethyl acetate:conc. ammonia (45:10:45:2) to give the title compound.

Preparation 6—Compound A: 5-[(R)-2-(5,6-diethyl-indan-2-ylamino)-1-hydroxy-ethyl]-8-hydroxy-1H-quinolin-2-one maleate

8-benzyloxy-5-[(R)2-(5,6-diethyl-indan-2-ylamino)-1-hydroxy-ethyl]-1H-quinolin-2-one (360 mg) is dissolved in methanol (10 mL) and the compound is deprotected by adding a catalytic amount of 10% palladium on charcoal and placing the solution under an atmosphere of hydrogen. The reaction is shown to be complete by TLC after 4 hours. The catalyst is filtered off and the solvent is removed in vacuo. The product is taken up into isopropanol and a solution of maleic acid in isopropanol added. The title compound is obtained after recrystallisation from ethanol. TLC (silica, dichloromethane/methanol 10:1 R_(f)=0.05). ES+MS m/e 393 (MH⁺).

Examples 1–60

Gelatin capsules suitable for use in a capsule inhaler such as that described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,991,761 are prepared, each capsule containing a dry powder obtained by mixing Compound A and budesonide which have been ground to a mean particle diameter of 1 to 5 μm and lactose monohydrate having a particle diameter below 212 μm, the amounts being as shown in the table below:

Compound A Budesonide Lactose Example (Parts) (Parts) (Parts) 1 20 100 19880 2 40 100 19860 3 80 100 19820 4 100 100 19800 5 120 100 19780 6 140 100 19760 7 160 100 19740 8 180 100 19720 9 200 100 19700 10 220 100 19680 11 240 100 19660 12 300 100 19600 13 500 100 19400 14 1000 100 18900 15 2000 100 17900 16 20 100 24880 17 40 100 24860 18 80 100 24820 19 100 100 24800 20 120 100 24780 21 140 100 24760 22 160 100 24740 23 180 100 24720 24 200 100 24700 25 220 100 24680 26 240 100 24660 27 300 100 24600 28 500 100 24400 29 1000 100 23900 30 2000 100 22900 31 20 200 14780 32 40 200 14760 33 80 200 14720 34 100 200 14700 35 120 200 14680 36 140 200 14660 37 160 200 14640 38 180 200 14620 39 200 200 14600 40 220 200 14580 41 240 200 14560 42 300 200 14500 43 500 200 14300 44 1000 200 13800 45 2000 200 12800 46 20 200 24780 47 40 200 24760 48 80 200 24720 49 100 200 24700 50 120 200 24680 51 140 200 24660 52 160 200 24640 53 180 200 24620 54 200 200 24600 55 220 200 24580 56 240 200 24560 57 300 200 24500 58 500 200 24300 59 1000 200 23800 60 2000 200 22800

Examples 61–90

Examples 1–60 are repeated, but replacing the budesonide by mometasone furoate, and using amounts as shown in the following table:

Compound A MF Lactose Example (Parts) (Parts) (Parts) 61 20 100 24880 62 40 100 24860 63 80 100 24820 64 100 100 24800 65 120 100 24780 66 140 100 24760 67 160 100 24740 68 180 100 24720 69 200 100 24700 70 220 100 24680 71 240 100 24660 72 300 100 24600 73 500 100 24400 74 1000 100 23900 75 2000 100 22900 76 20 200 14780 77 40 200 14760 78 80 200 14720 79 100 200 14700 80 120 200 14680 81 140 200 14660 82 160 200 14640 83 180 200 14620 84 200 200 14600 85 220 200 14580 86 240 200 14560 87 300 200 14500 88 500 200 14300 89 1000 200 13800 90 2000 200 12800

Examples 91–135

A dry powder suitable for delivery from the reservoir of the multi-dose inhaler described in W097/20589 is prepared by mixing Compound A and fluticasone propionate which have been ground to a mean particle diameter of 1–5 μm and lactose monohydrate having a particle diameter below 212 μm, the amounts being as shown in the table below

Compound A FP Lactose Example (Parts) (Parts) (Parts) 91 20 100 4880 92 40 100 4860 93 80 100 4820 94 100 100 4800 95 120 100 4780 96 140 100 4760 97 160 100 4740 98 180 100 4720 99 200 100 4700 100 220 100 4680 101 240 100 4660 102 300 100 4600 103 500 100 4400 104 1000 100 3900 105 2000 100 2900 106 20 200 9780 107 40 200 9760 108 80 200 9720 109 100 200 9700 110 120 200 9680 111 140 200 9660 112 160 200 9640 113 180 200 9620 114 200 200 9600 115 220 200 9580 116 240 200 9560 117 300 200 9500 118 500 200 9300 119 1000 200 8800 120 2000 200 7800 121 20 250 14730 122 40 250 14710 123 80 250 14670 124 100 250 14650 125 120 250 14630 126 140 250 14610 127 160 250 14590 128 180 250 14570 129 200 250 14550 130 220 250 14530 131 240 250 14510 132 300 250 14450 133 500 250 14250 134 1000 250 13750 135 2000 250 12750

Examples 136–163

Aerosol formulations are prepared by dispensing micronised active ingredients and, if required, lactose as bulking agent into a vial, sealing the vial with a metering valve, injecting the premixed ethanol/propellant and optional surfactant into the vial through the valve and subjecting the vial to ultrasonic energy to disperse the solid particles. The components and amounts used are shown in the following tables:

Cpd. A HFA134a HFA227 OA Lactose Ex. (Parts) MF (Parts) (Parts) (Parts) Ethanol (Parts) (Parts) (Parts) 136 2 10 36500 60750 2500 — 70 137 4 10 3410 6340 230 0.3 — 138 8 10 97000 — 2500 — 90 139 10 10 30500 67000 2500 0.5 100 140 12 10 3150 6550 250 1 — 141 14 10 3700 6050 250 0.8 — 142 16 10 3800 5900 230 0.4 — 143 18 10 4700 5050 250 1 — 144 20 20 3600 6150 225 1 — 145 22 20 3500 6200 230 1 — 146 24 20 98000 — 2500 1 — 147 30 20 3900 5900 250 1 — 148 2 20 30000 67000 2250 0.2 90 149 10 20 3500 6200 250 0.5 — 150 14 20 3200 6500 230 1 — 151 18 20 3100 6200 225 0.8 — 152 20 20 3150 6100 225 1 — 153 24 20 30000 60000 2000 0.8 — Cpd. A HFA134a HFA227 OA Lactose Ex. (Parts) FP (Parts) (Parts) (Parts) Ethanol (Parts) (Parts) (Parts) 154 4 10 34000 63000 2250 0.3 50 155 8 10 92000 — 2500 0.5 70 156 12 10 3000 5500 200 — — 157 16 10 2500 5000 200 0.3 — 158 20 10 2000 3000 150 0.2 — 159 30 10 2000 2000 150 0.2 — 160 8 20 20000 25000 1500 0.2 — 161 12 20 2500 2500 200 0.2 — 162 20 20 2000 2000 150 0.2 — 163 30 20 20000 20000 1500 0.2 —

Examples 164–199

The procedure of Examples 91–135 is repeated, but replacing fluticasone propionate by mometasone furoate, and using amounts as shown in the following table.

Compound A MF Lactose Example (Parts) (Parts) (Parts) 164 100 100 4800 165 200 100 4700 166 300 100 4600 167 400 100 4500 168 500 100 4400 169 600 100 4300 170 700 100 4200 171 800 100 4100 172 2000 100 2900 173 100 200 4700 174 200 200 4600 175 300 200 4500 176 400 200 4400 177 500 200 4300 178 600 200 4200 179 700 200 4100 180 800 200 4000 181 1200 200 3600 182 100 400 4500 183 200 400 4400 184 300 400 4300 185 400 400 4200 186 500 400 4100 187 600 400 4000 188 700 400 3900 189 800 400 3800 190 100 100 9800 191 200 100 9700 192 300 100 9600 193 400 100 9500 194 500 100 9400 195 100 200 9700 196 200 200 9600 197 300 200 9500 198 400 200 9400 199 500 200 9300

Examples 200–236

The procedures of Examples 136–163 is repeated, but using the amounts shown in the following table, the ethanol being omitted in some of the Examples:

Cpd. A HFA134a HFA227 OA Lactose Ex. (Parts) MF (Parts) (Parts) (Parts) Ethanol (Parts) (Parts) (Parts) 200 20 20 5000 — 200 0.5 — 201 40 2 2500 2500 — — — 202 75 25 1500 3500 500 — 1 203 20 20 3600 6150 225 — 0.5 204 2 20 30000 67000 — — — 205 14 20 3200 6500 1500 — 4 206 20 20 3150 6100 1500 4 — 207 10 20 4700 5050 500 — 0.2 208 60 20 10000 10000 — — — 209 60 20 10000 10000 200 — — 210 60 20 10000 10000 — 0.5 — 211 30 20 8000 12000 — 1 1 212 40 20 5000 15000 500 0.5 0.5 213 50 20 9000 11000 400 0.8 0.2 214 20 20 4600 5000 400 0.4 0.2 215 30 10 20000 25000 — — — 216 40 10 20000 30000 — — — 217 60 10 35000 65000 — — — Cpd. A FP HFA134a HFA227 OA Lactose Ex. (Parts) (Parts) (Parts) (Parts) Ethanol (Parts) (Parts) (Parts) 218 20 10 5000 5000 — — 1 219 10 10 3650 6350 — — 1 220 30 10 3200 6800 100 0.5 0.5 221 30 20 7400 7600 100 — — 222 40 20 8300 6700 200 0.5 — 223 60 20 3100 6900 300 1 — 224 10 10 8000 12000 — — — 225 50 20 1600 3400 500 2 0.5 Cpd. A Bud HFA134a HFA227 OA Lactose Ex. (Parts) (Parts) (Parts) (Parts) Ethanol (Parts) (Parts) (Parts) 226 10 20 5500 4500 — — — 227 2 20 3500 6500 — — 1 228 1 20 2500 7500 — — 1 229 20 20 3800 6100 100 0.5 — 230 15 20 3300 6600 100 0.5 0.5 231 30 20 3600 5900 500 4 — 232 40 20 4600 4900 500 3 — 233 30 10 3100 6800 100 0.2 0.5 234 40 10 1400 3100 500 0.2 — 235 60 10 8000 12000 — — 1 236 80 10 30000 70000 — — —

Examples 237–245

The procedure of Examples 136–163 is repeated, but using sorbitan trioleate (ST) as surfactant in place of oleic acid, the amounts of the ingredients being as shown in the following table:

Cpd. A HFA134a HFA227 ST Lactose Ex. (Parts) MF (Parts) (Parts) (Parts) Ethanol (Parts) (Parts) (Parts) 237 60 40 10000 10000 300 4 — 238 60 20 8000 12000 200 8 — 239 50 20 12000 8000 400 10 — 240 40 20 5000 5000 600 2.5 1 241 30 20 3500 6500 — 4 2 242 20 20 6000 4000 — 3 3 243 10 20 4500 5500 100 2 1 244 20 10 4100 5900 50 1 2 245 15 5 1550 3450 200 0.5 1 

1. A pharmaceutical composition comprising, (a) a compound

in free or pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate form; and (b) a corticosteroid, for simultaneous, sequential or separate administration in the treatment of an inflammatory or obstructive airways disease, the molar ratio of (a) to (b) being from 100:1 to 1:300 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
 2. A pharmaceutical composition according to claim 1, in which (a) is a compound of formula (I) in the form of the maleate salt.
 3. A pharmaceutical composition according to claim 1, in which the corticosteroid (b) is of formula (II)

or a 1,2-dihydro derivative thereof, where R¹ is C₁–C₄-alkyl optionally substituted by halogen, hydroxy, C₁–C₄-alkoxy, acyloxy or by acylthio, or R¹ is C₁–C₄-alkoxy or C₁–C₄-alkylthio optionally substituted by halogen, or R¹ is 5- or 6-membered heterocyclylthio, either R² is acyloxy; and R³ is hydrogen or C₁–C₄-alkyl, or R² and R³ together denote a group of formula (III)

where R⁴ is C₁–C₄-alkyl or C₃–C₆-cycloalkyl; and R⁵ is hydrogen or C₁–C₄-alkyl; and X¹ and X² are each independently hydrogen, chlorine or fluorine.
 4. A pharmaceutical composition according to claim 1, in which the corticosteroid (b) is beclamethasone dipropionate, budesonide, fluticasone propionate, mometasone furoate, ciclesonide, triamcinolone acetonide, flunisolide, rofleponide palmitate, butixocort propionate or icometasone enbutate.
 5. A method of treating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease which comprises administering to a subject in need of such treatment effective amounts of a composition as defined in claim
 1. 6. A method of treating asthma which comprises administering to a subject in need of such treatment an effective amount of a composition according to claim
 1. 